PA Pulls ANC by the Nose Over Kunene

By: Mpho Sekharume

The Patriotic Alliance (PA) is expected to respond to proposals submitted to them by the African National Congress (ANC), after the former threatened to withdraw from the government of national unity (GNU) if its deputy president, Kenny Kunene is not reinstated as Gauteng mayoral committee member. Kunene has been initially removed as a member of the mayoral committee (MMC) for transport in the province, after being found at alleged crime kingpin, Katiso ‘KT’ Molefe’s residence during the latter’s arrest. Molefe is accused of being involved in the brutal assassination of Oupa Sefoka, who was popularly known as ‘DJ Sumbody’. Kunene’s dubious presence at the Molefe’s house at the time of the arrest has given rise to speculation that the two are associates. Last week, PA president, Gayton McKenzie, threatened to withdraw his party from the GNU and go form a separate alliance with the Democratic Alliance (DA), if the ANC does not reverse Kunene’s suspension. He further vowed to resign as sports minister should the ANC not accede to latter demand after the PA’s own internal investigation absolved Kunene on any wrongdoing in the Molefe matter. This week Kunene was sworn back into the City of Johannesburg council – a clear indication of the ANC’s reversal of Kunene’s suspension. While he is yet to be reinstated as transport MMC, Kunene went on to Facebook on Tuesday after PA met with the ANC to declare the meeting between the two parties as successful. He also revealed that other pertinent issues that affect the Gauteng province in general were duly thrashed out. “We will then get back to the ANC before Friday on our response to proposals on the table. But we must emphasise the meeting went very well for Patriotic Alliance,” Kunene said to his supporters on Facebook. He added that the PA was currently perusing through proposals tabled by the ANC and would revert by today, 3 October 2025. “One must emphasise that this meeting has put to bed the issue of the resignation of the (PA) president or us withdrawing from coalitions.”